|
January 2008 Newsletter Contents [Newsletter Archive] |
|
|---|---|
| Pastor's Article | Vicar's Article |
| Christian Education | Parish Notes |
| Portals of Prayer |
|
    
|
|
|
January 2008 Newsletter Contents [Newsletter Archive] |
|
|---|---|
| Pastor's Article | Vicar's Article |
| Christian Education | Parish Notes |
| Portals of Prayer |
|
|
|
|
"Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you." (Isaiah 60:1-2, ESV)
Who could miss the Epiphany theme? Second only to the Easter season in age, Epiphany is sometimes known as "the season of light." But it seems strange, doesn't it, that it falls during the darkest months of the year? When the northern hemisphere is at its darkest comes the message that light has come.
Of course, light and darkness are metaphors for sinlessness and sin respectively. Into the dark world comes the Light of the World, Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God. Think back to the Christmas hymns that speak of the birth of Jesus on a dark night at midnight clear [LSB 366], of the Silent Night, Holy Night [LSB 363], the breaking forth of the beauteous heavenly Light [LSB 378], the rejoicing that comes on "this happy morn" [LSB 391], to name a few.
The birth of Jesus is the true Light that has come into the world. The Light dispels the darkness, chases it away as surely as does the rising sun. The dawn happens, unstopped by any human agency. The long night of this world's sin is chased away by the birth of the true Light, Jesus Christ. At Epiphany, his birth is announced to the Gentiles for Epiphany has been called "the Christmas of the Gentiles." Jesus' birth was first announced to the Jews as God's chosen people, but as Isaiah points out, it would be announced to the whole world. The glory of the Lord has risen upon our world in the birth of Jesus Christ.
Christmas is somewhat parochial, that is, of narrow scope. The news of the birth of Christ is announced to Jewish shepherds at Bethlehem. No world-wide announcement has yet been made. But with the arrival of the Magi the news of the true Light gets world-wide attention. Christ dispels the darkness of sin by His birth! His Incarnation brings the dawn of a new day. God is ushering in the salvation of the whole world. It will play out in the next 33 years, culminating in the death and resurrection of this Light.
This Light has not gone out! In this Epiphany season Christ's people bask in the light of Christ. It is an opulent season full of ever-growing light. The darkness cannot overcome the true Light, said the Evangelist John [John 1.1-18]. This true Light shows us the Father and the Father's heart.
The old Lutheran chorale by Philipp Nicolai, O Morning Star, How Fair and Bright, says it so well:
1 O Morning Star, how fair and bright!
You shine with God's own truth and light,
Aglow with grace and mercy!
Of Jacob's race, King David's son,
Our Lord and master, You have won
Our hearts to serve You only!
Lowly, holy!
Great and glorious,
All victorious,
Rich in blessing!
Rule and might o'er all possessing!2 Come, heav'nly Bridegroom, Light divine,
And deep within our hearts now shine;
There light a flame undying!
In Your one body let us be
As living branches of a tree,
Your life our lives supplying.
Now, though daily
Earth's deep sadness
May perplex us
And distress us
Yet with heav'nly joy You bless us.Text: © 1978 Lutheran Book of Worship Used by permission: LSB Hymn License .NET, number 100010193.
Created by Lutheran Service Builder © 2006 Concordia Publishing House.
Celebrate Epiphany! Bask in the bright Light that is Christ our Lord! Revel in the salvation which he has won! Look forward to day of his returning! You are blessed with heavenly joy!
Pastor Meyer
RUTH
16Ruth replied, "Don't urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God." (Ruth 1:16)
Lest you begin to think that only the great and miraculous events of the scriptures are worthy of mention, along comes Ruth. The book's lack of miraculous events only exemplifies God's great power in Ruth's life. Ruth is the ordinary person's cover girl, and we hold her in high esteem as one of our own. She performs no miracles, heals nobody, and brings no one back to life. Ruth doesn't save her people directly as Esther does, nor does she find herself in any position of authority. This story intentionally keeps Ruth away from the miraculous as if to tell the reader: 'Note Ruth, she was an essential part of Biblical history, but she didn't really do anything on her own. It was all from God.'
The book of Ruth begins with a guy named Elimelech, with Ruth herself just a side note. Elimelech marries Naomi, they have two boys, and the boys marry girls from other areas. Not only does Elimelech die (we don't know how or why), but so do both of the boys, which leaves only Naomi with her two daughter-in-laws: Orpah (Oprah Winfrey's namesake) and Ruth.
For three women to make any kind of living, they were nearly forced to go and marry elsewhere. Before they could worry about that, however, they had to survive the famine. "When she heard in Moab that the LORD had come to the aid of his people by providing food for them, Naomi and her daughters-in-law prepared to return home from there." (Ruth 1:6-7). So, in order to stay alive and due to a ten year drought in Bethlehem, the ladies decide to travel to Moab, which is the birthplace of both daughters-in-law. The distance from Bethlehem to Moab is about 100 miles, and they had to travel by foot! What would take us less than two hours of driving on the interstate would involve several days of arduous and potentially life-threatening travel for Naomi and her daughters.
Once in Moab, Naomi insists that the girls stay. "Why would you come with me? Am I going to have any more sons, who could become your husbands? Return home, my daughters; I am too old to have another husband. Even if I thought there was still hope for me-even if I had a husband tonight and then gave birth to sons-would you wait until they grew up? Would you remain unmarried for them" (Ruth 1:11-13)? Naomi's reasoning is rock solid. Unless they want to live the life of a widow at this young age, they'll go their own ways. While both girls argue to stay, Orpah takes off shortly thereafter. Ruth, however, literally clings on to her mother-in-law, making one of the greatest statements of faith in the Scriptures. "Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD deal with me, be it ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me" (Ruth 1:16-17).
Note her statement that 'your God will be my God'. Moab (Ruth's home) is a nation of pagans. Bethlehem, the land of Naomi and Elimelech, is a community of believers. Ruth believes in God with all of her heart, enough to give up a potentially comfortable life, showing her faith and repentance. This is pleasing to God, and it's what makes a true hero of faith. Ruth here understands that the rewards for her in heaven are much greater than any she might attain on earth, so she takes a leap of faith.
One chapter of Ruth's life closes as another opens. There may be a chance for Ruth to enjoy some comfort and pleasure in this life as well. God doesn't want us to suffer and be miserable all of the time. Quite the opposite, God is the reason for every good thing in our lives. The cross of Christ offers us both eternal life and the small (temporal) things, such as houses, cars, and food on the table. Ruth isn't putting her hope in these material things, but she can still receive them without any feelings of guilt, because she sees all blessings in her life as a gift from God. What is Ruth's temporal gift? A man named Boaz.
Here's where Elimelech begins to show his importance again. Boaz is his relative, and as such he's obligated to offer a small bit of kindness to Naomi (his widow) and Ruth (his daughter-in-law). Ruth's working his fields, taking a small amount of the grain for her and Naomi, when she's spotted by Boaz, who doesn't know her at all. He finds out that she's family and welcomes her warmly. "My daughter, listen to me. Don't go and glean in another field and don't go away from here. Stay here with my servant girls. Watch the field where the men are harvesting, and follow along after the girls. I have told the men not to touch you. And whenever you are thirsty, go and get a drink from the water jars the men have filled" (Ruth 2:8-9). Boaz is showing himself to be a good and honorable man, and for several reasons.
First of all, Ruth doesn't have to scrounge around for wheat all day, though that would have been kind enough of Boaz. We also see that he's one of the first antagonists of sexual harassment. In these days men could and would have treated Ruth however they felt, but Boaz has warned them that such actions will feel the brunt of his anger. Women are to be treated with respect in his care, and he's certainly going above and beyond the call of duty with these commands. He then explains why he's been so kind to her. "I've been told all about what you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband-how you left your father and mother and your homeland and came to live with a people you did not know before. May the LORD repay you for what you have done. May you be richly rewarded by the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge" (Ruth 2:11-12). Boaz makes it clear that this is the will of the Lord, and that Ruth is now living under His grace, not because she stayed with her mother-in-law (although this certainly impressed Boaz), but because she's chosen-against all odds-to follow the One True God.
Eventually Ruth winds up at home with an immense amount of grain. Naomi (who's very bright) was clearly shocked at Boaz's kindness and immediately hatches up a plan. "Wash and perfume yourself, and put on your best clothes. Then go down to the threshing floor, but don't let him know you are there until he has finished eating and drinking. When he lies down, note the place where he is lying. Then go and uncover his feet and lie down. He will tell you what to do" (Ruth 3:3-4). This isn't a plan to excite the lusts of Boaz, or to make him do something indecent so that Naomi and Ruth can take him for even more generosity. Ruth's asking him to marry her, but much more than that, she's asking him to become her kinsman-redeemer.
If Boaz agrees to this, he'll be responsible for Ruth, her deceased husband's property, and Naomi and Elimelech's property. He'll basically be taking the whole group under his roof and taking care of them. God put Boaz in Ruth's life for a reason and vice versa. If Boaz should accept Ruth, he'll see what benefits the Lord has in store for him.
Boaz, the picture of honor, tells Ruth to stay the night so as to avoid being seen as a harlot, but he doesn't touch her. Instead, he explains that he's overjoyed to take this very difficult and committed position in her life, but he's not entitled to it. There is one closer in relation than he and he must make sure that this man doesn't want to take the offer first. God, the real author of Ruth, is showing us here that Boaz and Ruth's union is totally pure and without trickery. Boaz is going to every length to make his marriage to her legitimate. So how do these legal proceedings go?
The kinsman-redeemer seems happy to take Ruth as his wife until he hears every stipulation. "On the day you buy the land from Naomi and from Ruth the Moabitess, you acquire the dead man's widow, in order to maintain the name of the dead with his property." At this, the kinsman-redeemer said, "Then I cannot redeem it because I might endanger my own estate. You redeem it yourself. I cannot do it" (Ruth 4:5-6). The real kinsman-redeemer doesn't want to receive this extra burden in his life, so he refuses, giving Boaz the right to take it all upon himself. What the kinsman-redeemer didn't realize were the glorious events that would surround this union.
Ruth and Boaz have a child, and name him Obed. "He (Obed) was the father of Jesse, the father of David" (Ruth 4:17). Ruth's child, the reason for her existence, is the grandfather of King David, who would later be considered the greatest king that ever ruled Israel. David, one of the greatest figures in all of Biblical literature, owes his existence to God's gracious will and an ordinary woman from Moab who wouldn't give up on her family. David would have numerous descendants, the most worthy of mention certainly being Jesus the Christ. The same Christ that saves you and me is also Ruth's Savior. Jesus is our kinsman-redeemer!
Vicar Heath Trampe
1Tappert, T. G. (2000, c1959). The Book of Concord : The Confessions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church (36). Philadelphia: Fortress Press.
LIBRARY NEWS
These books are new in the library:
Lutherans Against Hitler, The Untold Story by Lowell C. Green
The author seeks to set history straight in his careful analysis of original documents of those involved in the church's struggle under Hitler. This book was a gift to the library and is cataloged at 274G.Reading the Psalms with Luther
These are devotions of the Psalms with comments by Luther. Cataloged at 260S.
If you would like to have a copy of your own, contact the office.
Please try to return books in a months time.
Dorothy Senff, Librarian
DIRECTIONS FOR BORROWING BOOKS
Remove card from first page of book.
Sign card and date with the day the book is checked out.
Place card in the basket on the counter.
Return book in thirty (30) days with the option to renew for another thirty (30) days if there is no one on the waiting list.
Place returned books into box marked Book Return which is by the library door.
If the book is lost, the person whose name is last on the card will be held responsible. In other words, the book must be replaced or compensation must be made.
For further information, please see Dorothy Senff.
Thank you for your cooperation.
ADD THIS TO YOUR BOOKMARKS
On our congregation's website we have a list of a few links to other websites that are useful and informative. You might want to copy this one for your computer's bookmarks. It is from the Walther Library at Concordia Theological Seminary, Ft. Wayne. It contains a list of frequently asked questions [FAQs]. This information comes from the website itself:
To meet their needs and the needs of veterans in these gatherings, the Internet community invented the FAQ. Like a catechism, it provides good answers to common questions.
We at the Walther Library think this form is a very good idea. Thus, WaltherFAQ is now here to serve you. Please feel free to send in your own thoughts on the essays you find here. Like the rest of the web, Walther FAQ is always under construction!
02 January Wednesday, 7:00 AM Office of Matins 06 January The Epiphany of Our Lord, 10:30 AM Divine Service 09 January Wednesday, 7:00 AM Office of Matins 13 January The Baptism of Our Lord, 10:30 AM Divine Service 16 January Wednesday, 7:00 AM Office of Matins 20 January Epiphany 2, 10:30 AM Divine Service 23 January Wednesday, 7:00 AM Office of Matins 27 January Epiphany 3, 10:30 AM Divine Service 30 January Wednesday, 7:00 AM Office of Matins 03 February Transfiguration, 10:30 AM Divine Service 06 February Ash Wednesday, 7:00 PM Divine Service |
ALTAR GUILD PARAMENTS FUNDRAISING DINNER
Please mark your calendars for Friday, February 1st, as Immanuel's Altar Guild will prepare and serve a Paraments Fundraising Dinner in the Parish Center. The new paraments will be presented as part of Immanuel's 150th Anniversary celebration. Dinner will be served at any time between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. Cost of the dinner will be $12 for an adult portion and $6 for a child's portion.
We have planned a "Sweetheart" Menu of:
French Onion SoupHope to see you with your sweetheart on Friday, February 1st!
Chicken Breast Baked in a White Wine & Sour Cream Sauce
Mixed Greens Salad with Walnuts and Apples
Glazed Baby Carrots
Champagne Sorbet
French Puff Pastry Dessert with a Homemade Chocolate Rum Ball
Donna Dunbar, Altar Guild Chairperson
COUNCIL OF DEACONS REPORT FOR DECEMBER 2007 The Council of Deacons met on December 1st, 2007.
• The Council continued its study of the Book of Concord, discussing Article XXVI of the Augsburg Confession.
• Pastor Meyer reported that David Kirk had passed away and that a memorial service was planned for Tuesday, December 4th.
• Finance Chairman Jim Russler presented the 2008 budget proposal to the Council, and after discussion it was accepted. According to word from the Indiana District, insurance for Vicar may need to be increased to $6,000.
• Chairman of the Congregational Assembly Kris Bilyeu presented the proposed agenda for the Annual Meeting of the Congregational Assembly scheduled for December 2nd.
• It was decided that the installation of Congregational Assembly officers and Deacons for 2008 would take place on December 9th, the Sunday immediately following their selection.
• The restoration of the sanctuary was discussed, including possible improvements to lighting as well as electrical and sound systems. It was decided that the Council would not have all necessary information until mid-January, and thus the project would not be formally presented to the Congregational Assembly until January 20th.
• Discussion ensued on how we might best handle the situation if a disturbance were to occur during a worship service. Several suggestions were made and these will be discussed with the ushers.
• Pastor noted that copier rental bids have been received from Xerox. Kris Bilyeu will review the proposals and discuss these with Pastor.
• Pastor brought up the possibility of commissioning a hymn for the congregation's 150th anniversary, and the Council voiced its support for the idea. A possible theme for the hymn and for the entire celebration might be this congregation's abiding commitment and adherence to our confessional heritage.
The next meeting of the Council was set for Saturday, January 12, 2008 at 7:30 a.m.
Ron Dunbar, Chairman, Council of Deacons
BOARD OF EDUCATION
The Board of Education did not meet in December.
Our sincere and loving thanks to Stacy Gibbens, Stacy Mullins and Aunnee Trampe for their hard work and the sharing of God-given talent to our young in the December 19 Children's Christmas Service. A special thank you also to the participating children and their parents for arranging their schedules to attend the practices.
Remember the return of our library books when you are cleaning and rearranging around home this winter.
Our Sunday School mission project for January, February and March is called "Project Wittenberg" which is a plan to reestablish a Lutheran presence in the town of Wittenberg, Germany.
We still need Sunday school students. Remember our obligations that we have committed to in our life with Christ.
All current 2007 BofE members have indicated their continued membership on the board. Thank you members.
Upcoming dates
Remove Christmas tree decorations Jan 06 after DS
Next BofE meeting January 08
God's blessings,
Chuck Lux, Deacon Board of Education
CONGREGATIONAL ASSEMBLY - SPECIAL MEETING
The Congregational Assembly meets on Sunday, 20 January, to consider the proposal by Potente Studios to renovate our sanctuary. This is a special meeting for this purpose only. Input prior to the meeting should be directed to the Council of Deacons.
2008 FLOWER CALENDAR
The new flower chart for 2008 has been posted on the rear wall of the narthex. Cost is $16 per week. Please sign up for those Sundays you wish to donate. Any memorials must be reported to the church office the Monday before the Sunday you have chosen.
THANK YOU
The Board of Outreach, Assimilation and Fellowship would like to thank all of our members who volunteered their time, cooking, baking and decorating skills throughout the busy month of December to make all of our events a huge success. The first midweek Advent dinner had record attendance, 70 hungry people. The second midweek dinner was also well attended. The children loved decorating cookies for the Children's Service reception. I wasn't aware a cookie could hold so many sprinkles! And thanks to all who answered our desperate plea for German baked goods. There were over 125 in attendance (more than half were visitors) at the reception following the German service and we had plenty of food. They are always very appreciative. The Sanctuary looked beautiful and Christmas cleanup will take place on January 6, 2008 following Divine Service with lunch provided.
If you would like to be a part of the OAF Board, just see one of the members. We can always use more volunteers.
Leslie Bilyeu and the Board of OAF
SIMPLY GIVING®
Simply Giving® is an automated giving program from Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. It is designed to help you conveniently, consistently and joyfully give financial gifts to our congregations' ministry. By participating, you can use electric funds transfer to give your weekly, semi-monthly or monthly offering to our congregation. If you are interested in signing up, you may pick up a form in the church office. If you have questions, please do not hesitate to contact the church office.
BULK EMAIL
Occasionally the church office will send information through a bulk email. If you would like your email address added to our list, please email Leslie at leslie.immanuel@verizon.net. For your privacy, all bulk emails are sent as a blind copy.
TABLE TALK
Martin Luther used to sit around the dinner table and talk for hours with his friends about all kinds of topics, some of them merely reflections on what was happening in their society. In Luther's Works, American Edition, this is called "Table Talk," from the German Tischreden, which can be translated as "after dinner talk." In that spirit we include this monthly column.
More from "the religion of peace." In November it was announced that the "Religion of Peace" has passed the 10,000 mark, that is, there have been 10,000 separate terrorist attacks in the name of Islam since 11 September 2001. Certain nations keep popping up as venues for these actions: Somalia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, Gaza, Thailand, India, the Philippines. Victims were mostly fellow Muslims. Compare how many people have died in Christian terrorist attacks in the same period. And some people say that Christians and Muslims are all about the same thing and worship the same God!
SMILES
In Florida, an atheist became incensed over the preparation of Easter and Passover holidays He decided to contact his lawyer about the discrimination inflicted on atheists by the constant celebrations afforded to Christians and Jews with all their holidays while atheists had no holiday to celebrate.
The case was brought before a judge. After listening to the long passionate presentation by the lawyer, the Judge banged his gavel and declared, 'Case dismissed!'
The lawyer immediately stood and objected to the ruling and said, 'Your honor, how can you possibly dismiss this case? The Christians have Christmas, Easter and many other observances. Jews have Passover, Yom Kippur and Hanukkah...yet my client and all other atheists have no such holiday!'
The judge leaned forward in his chair and simply said, 'Obviously your client is too confused to even know about, much less celebrate his own atheists' holiday!'
The lawyer pompously said, 'Your Honor, we are unaware of any such holiday for atheists. Just when might that holiday be, your Honor?'
The judge said, 'Well it comes every year on exactly the same date---April 1st! Since our calendar sets April 1st as 'April Fools' Day,' consider that Psalm 14:1 states, 'The fool says in his heart, there is no God.' Thus, in my opinion, if your client says there is no God, then by scripture , he is a fool, and April 1st is his holiday!
Now have a good day and get out of my courtroom!!
Dispatcher: 9-1-1 What is the nature of your emergency?
Caller: I'm trying to reach nine eleven but my phone doesn't have n eleven on it.
Dispatcher: This is nine eleven.
Caller: I thought you just said it was nine-one-one
Dispatcher: Yes, ma'am nine-one-one and nine-eleven are the same thing.
Caller: Honey, I may be old, but I'm not stupid.
A mother was preparing pancakes for her sons, Kevin 5, and Ryan 3. The boys began to argue over who would get the first pancake. Their mother saw the opportunity for a moral lesson.
"If Jesus were sitting here, He would say, 'Let my brother have the first pancake, I can wait.'
Kevin turned to his younger brother and said, "Ryan, you be Jesus!"